Blackjack

Last weekend was my last 20 spot. I had decided to run Gretes Great Gallop to get another race in towards my auto entry into NYCM 2010 so where to get those extra 7?? I began using the wonders of gmap pedometer and it began obvious it made no sense to make it 7 miles since I'd be taking a subway one stop. So instead, like any normal person, I ran 8 miles from home to the start of the race. The night before I had made a special trip to the UWS to drop off my stuff at a local gym for post race shower:) Yeah, because runners do that - we make special hour trips to just drop off clean clothes:)

It was a sultry, sticky morning. Very reminiscent of Steamtown 2007 except not quite as hot. Good, let mother nature get it out of her system now! I left Brooklyn around 7:20am for a 9:00am race. This would give me ample time to head uptown. As I started my run, I noticed the stares of "is she lost" and "why is she wearing a bib number on the Brooklyn Bridge?" I just tuned into my shuffle and logged the mileage. Headed over the bridge to the west side highway and *poof* all of a sudden I was at 72nd street! It was crazy - I felt like I had just left Brooklyn?! Awesome.

I arrived to the start and got some water/gatorade and found nyflygirl in the corral. She had frontloaded as well and was using this as a way to get the miles in. My plan? Stick to no faster than 1:50 half. I had just ran a 1:40 half two weeks ago and no need to push the envelope here. Plus, I had electric lemonades awaiting me at Boat Basin post-race. Woohoo!

The race? I plugged into my shuffle and let my legs do the work. As I passed the start, I gave Grete Weitz a high five and off I went. My plan was to stay around 8:45s and maybe sprinkle a few 8:20s in for good measure. Nothing crazy. My times were all over the place but it's fine. I'm pretty happy that my SLOWEST mile was a 9:00 mile in which I literally stopped, walked a couple seconds to drink and then started running again. That was at the bottom of Harlem Hill before that horrible mile up to 90th street. Worst mile stretch of the course! As you can see below, I knew when the electric lemonades were close:) Oh, I also learned these shorts are done - they kept falling down! eek!

Overall, solid effort. Looking at the time, it's about what I ran for the second half of MCM in 2005. Things are getting eerie here! :)

Up next? Staten Island as a final "long run" before the big day. So close, I can almost taste it:)

Boat Basin? Let's just say good times had by all with many laughs and games of charades:-p Next time, you should come:)